When/Where to use flysheets

[Pop_676]

I board my arab at a hunter barn. Everyone has been telling me it’s time to get a fly sheet, so I am. When do you put on your horses fly sheet? My Arab spends most of the day in his stall, so it’s not terribly hot. The flies aren’t super awful either, though the barn dynamic is fly sheets/stable blankets/blankets for every horse.

My biggest concerns are that it will either rub off his hair or he will overheat. Do fly sheets still rub badly when a horse isn’t running around (like standing in a stall)?

I ride/see my Arab 4 days a week. The other days my trainer rides him. He has one day off, so I figure he will wear it 6 days a week, but will be naked on his day off. Usually people at my barn leave off the flysheets when the temp goes past 85ish. I am also hoping the fly sheet will help with the fact that my Arab is constantly rolling and getting stained! (he is a grey).

Thinking about getting this one.
https://www.sstack.com/mosquito-mesh…sheet/p/18471/

[Scribbler]

Honestly I would only use fly sheets if the horse was being noticeably bothered by flies. I have one I bought for camping, haven’t needed to use it yet at home. I also only put on a heavy weight blanket when it is actually cold out (horse has stall and runout paddock). I realize that it is the custom with some people and some barns to use as many blankets as possible, because it’s fun to dress up a horse, and if your trainer insists, then you might need to do all this. But honestly, I would say: use a flysheet if horse is restless, bitten, or making himself lame stamping at flies. Otherwise no need.

[Pop_676]

I will do my best to only put it on him when it’s particularly buggy out, though I would definitely get some judgment thrown my way if I didn’t at least buy one.

Mostly just looking for opinions on rubbing, overheating, experiences with mosquito mesh brand, etc.

[SonnysMom]

I don’t know anyone that uses a fly sheet in a stall. I can’t use one on my Arab cross he quickly gets shoulder rubs. I have tried 3 brands. He doesn’t get rubs from sheets or blankets.
I use a flysheet on my OTTB. He was getting welts from the fly bites. He is out quite a bit and wears one when he is out. We have a few horses that don’t wear flysheets. They all wear fly masks.

[mlb722]

I have two greys and I do think fly sheets help keep them clean. I have in/out stalls though and the flies can be bad outside. The rubs are really tiny. Not sure it’s necessary for in the stall, but shouldn’t hurt as long as it’s not super hot.

[Pop_676]

At our barn, fly sheets tend to be used 50% to keep the flies off and 50% to keep them clean and shiny. The hottest day of the summer is usually 95° here, and the coldest day of the summer is 55°. As long as the horses are a comfortable temperature while wearing it, and the fly sheet fits properly, is there really a problem?

[ryansgirl]

My mare is out 24/7 with access to a big shed. She ONLY wears her fly sheet at night when the mosquitos are out. During the day she’ll go in her shed which is dark to avoid the deer flys, horseflys or anything big like that (they hate dark places). She also wears a fly mask and fly boots 24/7 (changed twice daily with clean ones).

I absolutely will NOT put it on her during the day - I made that mistakes many years ago with my old TB. Big bug got trapped under the sheet and my old, stoic guy almost killed himself. To him that was a better option than continuously getting bitten.

Horses will sweat under the sheets and that to me looks extremely uncomfortable.

[x-halt-salute]

It’s 100 degrees today, and my horse isn’t sweaty under a fly sheet. YMMV depending on shade, breeze, and humidity.

In a stall/paddock with free access to the outdoors I leave a fly sheet on 24/7 for a few months of the year.

In a barn with a shady aisle that stays fairly fly-free and a horse who’s in the stall except for a few hours’ turnout, I put it on for turnout and take it off when the horse comes back in.

I find them easier, ultimately cheaper, and far more effective than using fly spray on the bulk of the body. For most it’s not about dressing up a horse, it’s about finding a functional option that minimizes the hassle and expense of providing my horse protection from insects. That said, if you don’t think it would make life easier for you or barn staff or provide better fly protection for your horse, maybe it’s not the best option for you.

Rubbing usually comes down to finding the best fit for your horse. Sometimes that is easier said than done. Perhaps someone will chime in with personal experience fitting the mosquito mesh sheet on an arabian build.

[CanteringCarrot]

My horse wears one inside and out. Granted he has a stall in a shedrow style barn with very small paddock attached, but there are still a lot of big horse flies around, even in his stall. The bugs aren’t as bad there as in the field, but I’ve left it on and he hasn’t been sweaty to rubbed yet. He also hasn’t rubbed this year like he did last year without it. So I think it is helping there.

I prefer not to use them (one less thing to worry about) but this horses tendency to rub his mane, tail, and body in the summer, gave me the idea of trying it. If they otherwise seem mostly unbothered, I wouldn’t put one on.

[Cynical25]

A properly fitted fly sheet shouldn’t rub at all. Here in N Texas, my fly-sensitive chestnut horse wears a fly sheet near 24/7 (removed daily for a skin check) March to May then it usually becomes too hot. My gray horse isn’t bothered by flies in the slightest, so no sheet for her. If there is good air flow and you don’t see flies in the barn, it’s silly to bother spending money on a fly sheet.